Master Charts:
For every section, Master charts indicating trains run in 24 hours are prepared which show the running of each Mail, Express or passenger trains over the section according to its scheduled running. In between the running of the trains carrying passenger, paths for goods trains are worked out and plotted. They are helpful in revision of Time tables and planning the running of any extra trains and guidance of SCORs and should be displayed on the board to which they refer.
Preparation of Master Charts
Trace out the paths of Passenger/Mail/Express Trains keeping in mind the timings necessary at divisional and zonal interchange points.The following points are to be kept in mind while preparing Master Charts:
(a) The Capacity of originating yard in forming trains and starting them.(b) The capacity at the terminals to receive the trains (Availability of platform lines, Pit line, TXR lines etc)
(c) Facilities at enroute for crossing or precedence.
(d) Spreading out evenly occupation of Block Section to avoid bottlenecks, if trains run late.
(e) On Double Line sections, grouping of trains of uniform speed so that detention and precedence becomes minimum.
(f) On single line sections, if the paths of Up and Dn direction trains can be traced at different periods the number of crossings can be reduced.
(g) Running time of Trains suiting to 10 Hours duty of running staff.
(h) Keeping in mind the time for crew changing, fueling, watering the coaches, passenger lunch/dinner.
Integrated Blocks:
In order to ensure safety and reliability of the system the maintenance and repairs to the track, points and crossings, Bridges, Signals and Overhead equipments etc. is inevitable. To make best use of available time integrated blocks are planned in co-ordination with different departments to undertake the maintenance works simultaneously instead of piecemeal blocks taken by different departments separately. Duration of the integrated blocks is determined on the basis of margins available in the Master charts and passenger operations. The details of integrated blocks are notified in the working timetables separately for each division indicating the section up and down lines, duration of block period and their implications, if any. These blocks are subject to minor adjustments depending upon running of trains. However, all out efforts should be made to ensure that the blocks are permitted as prescribed in the working time tables. The running of trains particularly goods trains should be adjusted by the Sr.DOM and Chief Controllers of respective divisions to avoid detentions during the block on account of temporary single line working and precedence being given to passenger carrying trains. Except for the works given in the TWOs, no other maintenance block shall be given to any department. All works shall be allowed within the Engineering allowance provided for each division.
Principal Chief Engineer, who shall co-ordinate the operation of blocks and maintenance works by all other departments, nominates one of the Sr.DEN of the division. The works to be executed shall be planned in advance in block meetings attended by officers of concerned department with all preparatory arrangements made well in advance for the smooth and timely execution of blocks without causing undue detention of traffic and inconvenience to passengers.
All concerned should ensure that blocks are not burst as to avoid adverse effect on running of trains and inconvenience to traveling public.
Traffic Corridor Block:
1. It is the time interval between two successive scheduled Mail Express trains in the particular section on the Division available for maintenance work done by various departments.
2. It is mentioned in the Working Time Table of concerned division.
3. The corridor block is shown in the master chart of the concerned division.
4. This period of corridor block may also be used for running goods trains.
5. Maintenance schedules on the divisions are to be managed as per the corridor blocks.
